Hitman Charles gunning for goals at Met Police FC

Former Farnborough and Woking striker Michael Charles hoping to make his mark at Imber Court

Michael Charles scores for Farnborough FC against Tonbridge Angels in Blue Square South in February 2012

Sharpshooter Michael Charles has left a club nicknamed The Dolphins to make a splash at Metropolitan Police FC.

The 27-year-old marksman has set his sights on a 20-goal haul as he looks to help transform Met Police's strike force into one of the most potent in the Ryman Premier.

There is no doubt Charles, who lives in Camberley, has a pedigree - his reputation only enhanced at Calor Premier outfit Poole Town during his 18-month stretch which ended in April.

A fans’ favourite at then Farnborough Town, he made his Conference debut aged 17 having risen through the youth ranks before a switch to Woking under his former Boro boss Frank Gray.

It did not work out for him at Kingfield but a further spell at Cherrywood Road followed, for Farnborough FC, as well as stints at Winchester City and AFC Totton, before his shift to the Dorset harbour town.

He scored 20 league goals in his first season for Poole before a knee injury at the beginning of last term meant appearances were scarce.

Charles put the injury down to wear and tear as he sampled life in Australia last summer, foregoing a break from the game and an English pre-season to play in Shepparton, an area two hours north of Melbourne.

Now he is raring to go and looking forward to linking up with an old friend and former team-mate Matt Pattison.

“I had been speaking to Matt about Met Police and I almost went there last season while Kingstonian was another option,” explained Charles, for whom time has flown.

“I’m 27 now and I started at 17. I can’t believe how quickly it’s gone. I think I blinked and missed it.

"To be honest I now feel as fit and strong as I’ve ever done and while I don’t normally look forward to pre-season, I can’t wait for this one.

“Matt has been telling me what a good team Met Police are and that if they can keep their best players and add a couple here and there it will make them stronger.

“They didn’t score a lot of goals last season and I’ve been brought in to help and am looking forward to forming a partnership with Bradley Hudson-Odoi up front.”

Charles has set a target for himself and added: “As a striker you always look to get 20 goals, that’s the figure we all talk about.

"If Bradley and I can get 20 apiece that will be great. There’s always pressure to score but there are others in the team like Patto [Pattison] and Ty Smith who I know can do that too.”

Blues boss Jim Cooper will be hoping Charles can help fire his team towards the play-off places next term after a poor season by their standards, finishing 17th with 58 points - 25 points away from fifth-placed AFC Hornchurch.

Most damning was the 'goals for' statistic from a traditionally free-scoring outfit, Cooper’s men managing just 58 in 46 matches, the fourth worst in the division.

“Our lack of goals last year was a major contributing factor to our poor league position,” reflected Cooper.

“Bringing an established goalscorer such as Charlsey to the club is a step in the right direction of addressing this problem.

“He has scored goals at a higher level than he will encounter next term so we are expecting him to be an extremely dangerous opponent to many defences.

“He and Bradley Hudson-Odoi, who has committed to the club, should form a potent strike force.

“We as a club will be looking to change the shape of the team to produce more goals and three up top is certainly an option that needs to be considered.”

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She has been editorial director of the online and print titles in Surrey and north-east Hampshire since 2007. Marnie previously worked at the BBC as a producer for 5 Live, having moved to national radio from BBC Sussex and Surrey.